Environment

FLORIDA -- The Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) reminds Florida’s residents and visitors to remain aware of current weather situations this holiday weekend, as a storm system may bring heavy rainfall across much of the Sunshine State. Potential flooding conditions will affect Southeast Florida through this evening. This threat could shift northward to portions of the Northern Peninsula later this weekend as the system nears this area of the state. This same system could bring strong onshore winds, which may lead to rough surf, large breaking waves and a high risk of rip currents along the Atlantic Coast through next week.

Florida Division of Emergency Management officials are reminding beachgoers to stay alert as strong onshore winds along the entire Atlantic Coast will bring rough surf and a high risk of rip currents throughout the week. These conditions will also bring an elevated risk of rip currents along portions of the Panhandle through tomorrow. Those traveling to the beach should be aware that when red beach warning flags are flying, swimming in Florida’s coastal waters can be dangerous.

Recreational and commercial blue crab harvesters in the St. Johns River system must remove their blue crab traps from the water before Jan. 16, the first day of a 10-day trap closure. This closure will give groups authorized by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) to gather traps the opportunity to identify and retrieve lost and abandoned blue crab traps from the water.